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"Saying 'I notice you're a nerd' is like saying, 'Hey, I notice that you'd rather be intelligent than be stupid, that you'd rather be thoughtful than be vapid, that you believe that there are things that matter more than the arrest record of Lindsay Lohan. Why is that?' In fact, it seems to me that most contemporary insults are pretty lame. Even 'lame' is kind of lame. Saying 'You're lame' is like saying 'You walk with a limp.' Yeah, whatever, so does 50 Cent, and he's done all right for himself."— John Green

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

I was lucky enough to be a part of the book tour, from Fire and Ice, of The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson. This book captivated me right from the start. Being a Maureen Johnson book, I knew I would probably like it, as I loved 13 Blue Envelopes, The Bermudez Triangle, and Suite Scarlett. But The Name of the Star has a definite shift in tone and feel from those other books, and I was pleasantly surprised.

The best part of this book was the atmosphere. Some books are light and airy, but this was dark and heavy. But NOT in a bad way at all. This feeling kept rushing me forward, urging me to turn the next page. Rory was a delightful protagonist to follow. I loved seeing things from her perspective, an American caught up in a very British situation. It was interesting to see "Rippermania" from someone who didn't grow up hearing about it. And this inexperience really lent itself well to the ominous tone of the book; as Rory is discovering things, so is the reader! I also love that Rory isn't your typical "perfect" American. What I mean is she isn't cookie-cutter. She comes from Bénouville, Louisiana, which has it's own set of crazies, many of whom are related to Rory. Therefore she has some experiences which I think prepared her for what comes in the book. Just loved her so much.

The other delicious aspect is the "Rippermania" stuff. If you like some gory stuff, then Jack the Ripper is your guy. While the book itself doesn't go into super explicit detail, there are some descriptions of murders and violence. But you can't really have a Jack the Ripper book without it. The fact that this is a modern copy-cat is terrifying, especially as you learn exactly how these murders were conducted and that no one ever caught the murderer. On top of all this crazy violence is some crazy paranormal happenings. Such a cool twist to the whole book. I especially didn't see the end coming at all (Got you interested yet? HUH?!), and I loved it. Made me squirm with the need to read the second book already!!!

The Name of the Star has shot to the top of the list of my favorite Maureen Johnson books, and it will do the same to your list. The book comes out on September 29th, just a mere 4 days away! If you can't wait and need a preview, the first 78 pages are up at Maureen's website here (just scroll down!). Check out the book trailer below, and go grab The Name of the Star as soon as possible!